In the March issue of the Rhode Island Bar Journal, Seth writes of the dangers of continuing a “business-as-usual” approach to Rhode Island’s energy system, and the economic opportunities we can grasp by embracing new and transformative technologies and meeting the...
Steward’s Journal May 2024
Welcome Conor!
❖ We’re proud to introduce Conor MacDonald as our newest lawyer. Conor graduated from Roger Williams Law and worked in environmental, land use, immigration, and fiduciary law. Before law school he worked with the Boston Society of Architects/AIA for ten years.
Recent Stewardship
❖ Appointed counsel to the recently rebranded RI Energy Efficiency Council (EEC).
❖ Second circuit appeal on federal subject matter jurisdiction over class action lawsuit to recover federal tax National Grid passed through to interconnecting renewable energy customers but did not owe to the IRS.
❖ Helped Audubon Society acquire over 300 acres of land in Coventry and North Kingstown RI.
❖ Advocated for maximum renewable growth program targets set by 2023 state law and allocations to project sizes that could fulfill those goals. RIPUC 23-44-EL.
❖ Helped resolve RI Energy’s failure to issue net metering credits to client’s community solar projects due to administrative problems.
❖ Stakeholder in RIPUC docket on the “future of gas,” advocating for sequenced decommissioning of gas lines and allowing competitive markets for efficient, cost-effective transformation of thermal energy across all of RI.
❖ Advocated that penalty proposed for net metering renewable energy customers that overproduce their consumption must be offset by averaging seasonal rate variation that is based on demand for natural gas and yet penalizes summer production of clean electricity when electric load peaks. RIPUC 23-05-EL.
❖ Filed suit for Narragansett Pier Railroad to reverse Narragansett’s realignment of assessors’ maps to take railroad bed properties for town use and taxation.
❖ Settled case regarding client’s Narragansett Bay Commission’s taking of waterfront property without just compensation.
Other News & Resources
❖ Seth published Rhode Island’s Economic Opportunity to Act on Climate in the Rhode Island Bar Journal.
❖ Helen co-sponsored a Providence City Council ordinance mandating all municipal buildings to go fully carbon-neutral by 2040.